TE MORI ROSE BOWL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 173, 23 June 1926, Page 10

TE MORI ROSE BOWL.

MAORI RUGBY FIXTURE. PERFECT CONDITIONS PREVAIL. Perfect weather prevailed to-day for the Te Mori Rose Bowl Rugby match —the annual contest between the North and South' Island Maori exponents of the code —a heavy frost overnight having been followed by bright, warm sunshine, with an entire absence of wind. The fixture invariably creates considerable interest among the native population of the Dominion, but in view of the fact that the Maori Advisory Board —the controlling authority of Maori football in the Dominion —purposes despatching a team to tour France and Great Britain next month, to-day’s meeting is in the nature of a trial,"it being the last- opportunity for many of the participants to make good their claims for inclusion in the touring team. Such an event is, naturally, one of great moment to Rugby players of the native race, it being the first tour of such magnitude to be undertaken since as far hack ns 1888. although -isits at close intervals since that vear have been paid to Australia. While several of the foremost Maori players were absentees from this afternoon’s game, a wealth of talent was present and, as the ground was in splendid order, a fast, spectacular contest was anticipated. Although' no actual alterations in the teams were.announced this moilning. it was not improbable that Kingi, the Taihnpe plaver. who suffered an injury to his hip last Saturday, would be replaced either following a period of 20 minutes’ play or at the interval Akuira. the local player, being called upon to substitute him. The only lion-arrival at noon was Hartley, the Wanganui wing three-quarter, but lie was expected to arrive later by car.